Monday, May 14, 2012

Make Your Own Handmade Fabric Labels...

I know we are all "Do It Yourselfers", so when we make things for others as gifts or to sell, why not have your own fabric label to add to what ever you make.

Here's a quick tutorial on how to make your own fabric labels, but you can certainly add your own special touch to them too.

You will need:

fabric...I used 100% cotton muslin

Freezer paper...found in the grocery store in the aluminum foil section

computer and printer

Here is my attempt at a "Sew Many Ways" label.

Here's where the idea first started over 3 years ago. Remember my daughter Courtney's high school senior project? It was a Underground Railroad quilt. If you look in the lower right corner, I showed her how to make a label describing all the blocks in the quilt. This is the same process.

Here is a picture of freezer paper. Dull on one side, shiny on the other. You will use this to stabilize the fabric as it goes through the printer. The shiny side is perfect for ironing on fabric and it is re-usable over and over. I also use freezer paper for English Paper Piecing my hexagons.

Iron the shiny side down on the wrong side of the fabric. Don't let the iron touch the shiny side!!!

Trim paper/fabric to 8 1/2 inches x 11 inches.

Fabric on one side, paper on the other.

I used Mircrosoft word to print what I wanted...experiment with your own computer.

I printed towards the bottom of the label, so I can fold it over...see below.

Iron the whole sheet to "set" the ink.

Cut out and just peel off the paper.

I folded over the side edges.

and then folded in half.

Perfect little label ready to sew into a seam.

If you want a flat label that can be permanently ironed on, instead of folding like I did, just iron the label to permanent fusible web, like Heat and Bond. Then the label can be ironed onto your item.

34 comments:

Thanks for this tip Karen. These would be great for putting sizes in clothes too and much more cost effective. I also like to put washing instructions in garments, and these would be great for that as well.

I use this method for printing pictures on fabric, and if you sprinkle it with a lite mist of water before ironing it, it sets it a lot better. It is washable for many, many washes, preferable in cold water with mild detergent.

Have you washed these yet? Regular address labels that I print run when they get moisture on them. My son lived in Hawaii for two years so I know this! Anyway, do you use a laser printer? I just wondered if the ink held when the labels were washed. Great idea for labels!

I just love these! I need to get cracking and make some soon. I used to buy the expensive computer fabric sheets, but I can see that I won't be doing that anymore. I heard of people making their own, I just didn't know the steps to make it. Thanks!

I tried this once and it didn't work! A thread of muslin got caught in the printer, rolled around the roller, and permanently ruined the printer. We had to buy a new one. I've been threatened within an inch of my life if I even THINK about putting freezer paper and muslin through a printer!

Your idea looks like an easy thing to do, Karen! This one’s really useful not just for people who run a small business, but also for those who are fond of creating specially made items. I, for an instance, love giving my friends personalized items because they love being offered with something exceptional. Plus, they appreciate it even more because they know that you put a lot of effort in making it. You guys should really try this! Without a doubt, making your own fabric labels adds your own personal touch to it! ;)

I had been using a different process to make my own labels but I was not happy with it. I came back online and started searching again and I came across your directions for labels. It was late, but our Walmarts are open 24 hours, so I rushed out to buy the muslin and the freezer paper and I came home and made my first "page" of labels that night. I started using them the next day, the idea was so easy and so much better than what I had been doing.

Even my 23 year old son comments on the label when i show him my newest pouch pocket with the label sewn into the side seam. I have made and used several more pages since then. KUDOS for the directions.

When you get a moment you can look at the pouches and see the labels at https://stringsfromtheheart.storenvy.com

I tried this but the wax just seeped into the fabric - I was having trouble finding freezer paper and my mom had some she gave me so I'm wondering if perhaps it was too old? I did end up getting the sheet to print in my printer in the end since the wax stiffened the fabric enough to print them but I was wondering if anyone else had a similar problem?

Okay so here was the problem - the freezer paper my mom gave me was old and so was waxed. I bought new stuff which was plastic coated and that worked better, except that the material and fp ke[t jamming in my printer - did get a couple of nice labels though. So whatever you do, do not use freezer paper that is waxed and use a rotary cutter to cut the material to size so as not to have frayed edges on the material. By the way for my fellow Canadians, I found my freezer paper in Home Hardware.for approx. $5.

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About Me

Hello and welcome to my blog! My name is Karen. I am a wife to a wonderful man for over 28 years and a mom to two beautiful daughters. The girls have graduated from college and are starting wonderful lives of their own. We miss having them home, but they still keep us busy! I am a dental hygienist by day and in my free time I love to blog, sew, quilt, craft, rearrange furniture, shop in consignment stores and drink tea! Thanks for joining me on this blogging journey...I have sew many things to share!